Week 1 Predictions and picks’ contest

The season is nearly here, which means it’s time for my weekly predictions and our newest, latest and greatest picks’ contest, which will be held every week until a winner is crowned at the end of the season.

For the uninitiated, here’s how the contest works: Each week, I’ll pick every game, but I will single out 10 of them as my “Top 10” of the week. To join the contest, log in under a unique user name (the same one each week) and give your picks. You don’t have to pick scores—just the winners. At the end of each week, I will tabulate each participant’s record. I will publish that week’s results as well as everyone’s running total for the season, including mine.

There’s still a lot to get to before kickoff Friday night, so let’s get to it.

THE TOP 10—

GAMES OF THE WEEK
Poughkeepsie vs. SomersWhen: Friday, 6:45 p.m.Where: Poughkeepsie High SchoolKey players:Poughkeepsie – Markel Green (5-10, 170), Sr., QB/DB; Shateak Jones (5-10, 180), Sr., RB/LB; Jovan Atkinson (6-3, 195), So., WR/DB. Somers – Tim Cousin (5-10, 160), Sr., QB; Matt Morgante, (5-10, 170), Jr., RB/DB; Connor Vlasaty (5-8, 170), Sr., RB/DB.Key matchup: Somers coach Tony DeMatteo (mentor) vs. new Poughkeepsie coach John Castellano (student)Outlook: Both the teams and the coaching matchup are dripping with intrigue as these two perennial Class A contenders open the season. DeMatteo and Castellano go way back, and many of DeMatteo’s coaching principles have always been apparent in Castellano’s teams. DeMatteo was known to help call plays during Nyack’s best days under Castellano, and their relationship now moves to the center of what’s been on the section’s best rivalries in recent years. The teams should be fascinating in their own right. Somers, the defending champ, lost almost its entire team to graduation and will no longer have a significant size advantage up front. Poughkeepsie should look different altogether. Castellano has scrapped the uptempo spread offense that became so popular under former coach Ken Barger for the Wing-T. The Pioneers also suffered heavy losses to graduation and were hurt by the defection of star receiver Devonte Hamilton to prep school.Prediction: Somers 28, Poughkeepsie 19. I don’t quite know what to make of this game considering there has been so much turnover on both teams. But Somers has had much more time to adjust to new faces in new places.

Harrison vs. BrewsterWhen: Saturday, 3 p.m.Where: Harrison High SchoolKey players:Harrison – Mike Amicucci (5-9, 185), Sr., HB/CB/KR; Ryan Knox (5-11, 205), Sr., OL/DL; Brendan Pyne (5-11, 185), So., QB/LB. Brewster – Frank Golinello (6-0, 225), Sr., OG/LB; Joe Buonadonna (5-7, 175), Jr., RB/DB; Liam DaRos (6-1, 180), Sr., QB/DB.Key matchup: Brewster offensive line vs. Harrison front sevenOutlook: Brewster started last season 8-0 and reached the Class A semifinals under first-year coach Ed Mulvihill, but Harrison represents the type of challenge the Bears will face in 2013. Their schedule should prove to be significantly tougher, starting with one of this year’s Class A favorites on the road. Harrison returns a handful of skill players and three of its five starting linemen from a season ago. The Huskies will break in the able Pyne at quarterback, but Brewster will lean on a new signal caller as well as DaRos takes over for strong-armed Brian McNeill. Both should be capable, but Brewster’s rebuilt line will have to prove it can protect DaRos and co. to upset Harrison.Prediction: Harrison 31, Brewster 14. With so much returning and a lot of emotion surround the game in the wake of Art Troilo Sr.’s passing, I expect Harrison to deliver a big performance.

ELITE EIGHTSaturday:Rye Neck 21, Tuckahoe 7. Panthers are dripping with promise and will open the season with a bang against a rebuilding state power.Rye 35, Spring Valley 13. The Tigers better be ready to defend the deep ball.Yorktown 21, Panas 20. This could be one of the better games in Week 1. Panas has a real chance to prove it can play with the big boys.New Rochelle 20, Ketcham 14. An upset here is a real possibility. New Ro will be better by season’s end, but this has shades of Carmel in 2008 written all over it.Mahopac 27, Scarsdale 0. With Scarsdale’s uncertainty at quarterback, running the triple-option, it doesn’t bode well against such a stingy opponent.Mamaroneck 21, Carmel 14. Mamaroneck played close to the vest this preseason. The Tigers beat Carmel last year, but I’m not quite sure what to make of them here.North Rockland 14, John Jay 10. One team will stamp itself as a title contender here. These programs have proven in recent years that they are elite.Croton-Harmon 21, Pleasantville 12. After an injury-ravaged 2012, expect Croton to become a contender again.

JOSH THOMSON joined The Journal News and LoHud.com in March 2003 and has covered high school football, basketball, baseball and pro and college sports ever since. He graduated in 1998 from Carmel High School and in 2002 from Boston University with a degree in communications. Josh spends the majority of his free time with his wife and two daughters.

A couple of questions; it says the Briarcliff/Hamilton Mishagass is playing something called Early College, could someone explain just who, what and where this Early College thing is?
Lastly, the Hollow was in the 2012 Class A final, some here would argue that they were the second best team in Class A last season(LOL, I think I wet myself on that one) and they are starting the season vs Yonkers!!!!!! Just how does a returning sectional finalist, which is returning its’ QB, who is one of the best players in the Section get to start the season against such a lackluster, cream puff opponent?
Does Sleepy have any real games in the first six this season or do they get a cake walk into the playoffs again this season?
Something smells bad.
I will duck and cover now so that you all can reply.

@Dragon Fever – Harrison has all the tools this year. When playoffs come, the scheduling could go against Harrison like last year so you never know who you could see at Dietz this year. There are alot of talent this year in Section 1 Class A

Chief,
Hollow plays Pok in the second game, are they a cream puff? The schedule is what it is, you did not hear hollow people crying last year when they had Rye, Harrison and John Jay all in a row. Why did you not say something stunk last year with that? Worry about your team and your schedule,, see you week 7

Did you make it up. Same 3 plays all game. No threat to pass and the 3 fastest kids on the team get no carries. Knowing your personnel is a big part of coaching. Running right into the heart of the D. Repeating the same thing expecting different results is insa.nity.

I forgot to pick my rck vs new Ro game.
I Dnt like this game bc RCK strength is new Ro weakness ( passing) .., RCK has 9 returning offensive starter and new ro has 8 first year defensive starters. This a bad matchup for week1 for new Ro. I think rck will put points up. but I believe new Ro will find a way to win. #champs are here!!!

States, yes we ventured upstate to see the game. First, very nice facility, big crowd, good parking, the food looked pretty good. Only thing, a baseball field needs SOME dirt, at least at home plate and on the mound, then again I am old school.
As for the Pioneers, hopefully they progress and improve as the year goes on, that is what teaching and coaching are all about.
Yes, they did run about 3 plays over and over again, but even though they only rn basic stuff the team never looked comfortable with any of the plays. When they did attempt to pass James was literally running for his life. Running or passing there were never any sustained blocking by the o line.
The offense should improve, but the most glaring problem last night was no team speed, no smash mouth football and no defense. The defense was in hiding, Somers ran the ball at will. Where was the hitting Po’K is known for.
You maybe correct, maybe the best kids were not on the field. You know the kids up there I do not. Maybe this is just a rebuilding year with many young inexperienced kids.
Would love to see them turn it around.